Round 1, Shell Houston Open
By PGATOUR.COM staff
Final weather update: Play got under way at 10:50 a.m. ET. The weather is expected to be fine the rest of the day, but with the last tee time now slated at 5:30 p.m. ET, not everyone will finish the first round on Thursday.
Weather Update: The tee times for the first round have been pushed back 2 ½ hours due to weather. The first groups will tee off at 10:50 a.m. ET. The changes have been reflected on the leaderboard.
The worst of the weather at Redstone was expected between 8-11 a.m. ET as a fast moving cold front pushes through the area. The skies will clear in the afternoon but the winds will pick up -- shifting to the west/northwest by noon and gusting to 30 mph at times. Sunny skies, light winds and moderate afternoon temperatures are forecast for Friday and Saturday, although there will be a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms on Sunday morning and gusty winds all day.
After the weather moves through, the first groups are ready to tee off in the first round of the Shell Houston Open. Here's how it sets up:
| Groups We're Watching | ||||||||||||
|
EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR Network on-site correspondent Brett Wright previews Thursday's first round:
The Shell Houston Open has one of the best international field of any tournament with the exception of majors or World Golf Championships. Alvaro Quiros, the young long-hitting Spaniard is here, Greg Owen and Luke Donald are representing the Tea Time crowd. The Aussies, not only sent 14 players, but they include the current Presidents Cup Captain Greg Norman. Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia and Vijay Singh all are trying here to challenge the Redstone layout. You ask why? Because Redstone is set up with similar conditions to the Augusta National. The fairways are firm and fast. The rough is very short and creates a minimal penalty. The greens are crisp and fast and Jason Gore told me today that they are rolling about 12.5 on the stimp meter. NBC's Roger Maltbie agreed with that number after he played a few holes in the afternoon.
| Thursday's forecast | |
|
You get to know some players better than others while broadcasting on the PGA TOUR. Johnson Wagner is one of the guys that I feel like I know fairly well and last year I was on the practice green at Augusta National on Tuesday when I noticed Wagner on the putting green by himself. I walked up and said to his back, "Like a kid in a candy store." He turned around and gave the biggest smile and walked over to the ropes and told me about the last 48 hours as being a blur since winning here at the Shell Houston Open. Johnson has struggled this year -- not to win, but to make cuts. He did make two out of his last three cuts and a tie for 30th last week at Bay Hill has Wagner back with a swagger. He told me his putter is finally cooperating. Watch out for Wagner to find that loving feeling here at Redstone and be in the hunt on the weekend.
Two others that have roots in Augusta, Charles Howell III and Vaughn Taylor are trying to earn thier way into the Masters field as well. I spoke with both players today and although you can read the dissapointment in their words, you can also see the fire in thier eyes. They both said to the effect that "It's not too late" with rye grins. That desperation type of pressure can inspire a player to perform, or more often to implode. It makes the Shell Houston Open the qualifier to get to a major. I will be secretly pulling for my fellow Augustans (please dont tell anyone!)
Anthony Kim is still struggling with his irons. He spent a couple hours trying to hone his iron game on the range on Wednesday afternoon. He is very close, just seems to lose it right from not completing his backswing every now and again. He will find his "A" game very soon, but it's not there yet.
One of the most interesting things this week is both Presidents Cup captians are in the field -- Greg Norman and Fred Couples. Couples said today that he and Nick Watney will play a practice round at Augusta National next week against Norman and another Australian. When asked if this would be a tryout for the Presiden's Cup Team, Couples smiled and said absolutely.
| Stat of the day | ||
|
FEDEXCUP NOTES: ROUND 1
• Currently 62nd in the FedExCup standings, Jason Dufner is the lowest player in the standings that could get into the top 10 with a victory at the Shell Houston Open.
• Dufner is just one of 35 players in the field this week not in the top 10 who could move into the top 10 with a victory.
• With the huge advantage of being in the top 5 at the final event, it is interesting to note that only 10 players that enter this week outside of the top 5 have a chance at moving into the top 5.
• Three players have qualified for the Masters next week based solely on their performance in the 2008 FedExCup -- Bubba Watson, Billy Mayfair and Briny Baird.
• Currently 17th in the FedExCup standings, Charles Howell III could move into the top 5 with a victory and into the top 10 with a solo second.
• Finishing tied for second at the Transitions Championship and tied for 22nd at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, Howell has earned over half of his points in his last two starts.
• Obscure Howell putting stat -- Howell has missed three putts inside of three feet this year, but is the only player through this point of the season that has not missed any of his attempts measuring between 4.5 feet and 5.5 feet. It is important to note that he has had 269 attempts inside of three feet versus only 19 from the slightly longer distance.
-- Mike Vitti, PGA TOUR Staff
| The Film Room | ||||||
|
| Live Essentials | ||||
|
WEEKLY VERSION: To sign up for a newsletter version of The Starter delivered to your e-mail address, click here.
Shop your favorite brand name golf equipment and accessories at SHOP.PGATOUR.COM
PGATOUR.com is part of Turner - SI Digital, part of the Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network 